2001 Season in Review

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara
University men's soccer team held its annual awards banquet Sunday
afternoon at Dave & Buster's in Milpitas, Calif. The Broncos
gathered to celebrate another successful season and to say thanks
to its outgoing seniors.

Colorado Rapids defender Jeff Stewart was on hand for the
ceremony, collecting his Defensive MVP award for the second year in
a row. Stewart was drafted in the first round of the MLS Draft
following a year in which he was named the West Coast Conference
Player of the Year and Co-Defender of the Year. The Rapids were in
town to play the San Jose Earthquakes.

Anthony Chimienti was honored as the Offensive MVP, also for the
second year in a row. Chimienti led the Bronco offensive attack in
each of the last three seasons and tallied a total of 62 points in
his career on 25 goals and 12 assists.

The team's Most Inspirational award went to Keith Burden, who
alongside Stewart, anchored the Bronco defense for the last four
years. Burden appeared in 82 matches during his Santa Clara career,
starting 79 of those contests. He tallied nine goals, seven of
which were game-winners, to go along with five assists during his
stellar career.

The Rookie of the Year and Most Improved awards went to a pair
of freshmen. Ryan Cochrane took home the Rookie of the Year award
following a season in which he earned All-WCC honors and started in
all 21 of the Broncos' games in his first year on the Mission
Campus. Zach Knight was honored as the Most Improved player as the
freshman worked his way into a starting role midway through the
season and tallied five points on one goal and three assists.

Head coach Mitch Murray also recognized the outgoing seniors for
their contributions to the program. In addition to Burden,
Chimienti and Stewart, the Broncos will also be without Justin
Canel, Tony Cota and Rusty Johnson next season. Cota and Canel
proved to be vital aspects of the successful seasons at Santa Clara
over the last few seasons, with Johnson being one of the top
netminders in the nation.

As a sophomore in 1999, Johnson led the Broncos to the College
Cup where they finished the season as the National Runners-Up.
During his tenure at Santa Clara, Johnson has placed himself in the
upper echelon of all-time Bronco players. He currently ranks second
all-time in shutouts with 23.5 and fourth in saves with 164 and in
goals-against average with a 0.79 mark. Johnson was also honored by
the NCAA when he was selected as a recipient of the prestigious
NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. He was one of only two men's soccer
players in the nation to be selected for the honor.

The Broncos finished the season with a 12-9-0 record and a 5-1-0
record in the WCC. The Broncos captured the WCC Championship in
2001 and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament where
they eventually lost to Stanford who made it to the College
Cup.